Tema, July 11, GNA - The Ghana Shippers Council (GSC) on Monday warned that it would not support people whose business activities would tarnish the image of the shipping industry.

Mr Kofi Mbiah, Chief Executive of GSC, speaking to newsmen at Tema, called for stiffer punishment for people whose dealings would draw the image of the shipping industry into disrepute to serve as deterrent to others.

He noted that such unpatriotic attitudes would not only tarnish their reputation but discourage business entrepreneurs from transacting business with the Council and prayed that such culprits be severely dealt with.

The Chief Executive was answering questions by newsmen on the GSC stance on an alleged fraud at the Tema Port where an official of the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) George Bansah and Clearing Agents aided the clearance of 10 containers of cargo imported from Canada and evaded duties estimated at 1.2 billion cedis.

Mr Mbiah said had the South African Company involved in the fraud registered with GSC "We would have black listed it and made to pay the duty in addition to 300 per cent of the value of the goods as penalty because it is not a genuine business."

He said the Council would agree with the government to deal drastically with the culprits when found guilty of the offence.

Mr Mbiah regretted that in spite of the efforts being made by the GSC through education, seminars and training to enable operators within the industry transact genuine business, there were some recalcitrant people among them and warned that they would not be spared when arrested.

To forestall malpractices within the maritime industry, Mr Mbiah entreated stakeholders to endeavour to own and be conversant with their Maritime Shipping Review periodicals on the regulations and byelaws for their operations.

The Chief Executive said though CEPS had instituted some measures to deal with people who flout the law, there was the need for the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF) to institute measures to reduce fraud in the clearing business.

He blamed some recognized Clearing Agents who continued to engage the services of unlicensed agents to operate for the dubious deals within the industry.